Cal Poly Humboldt President Announces Plans to Step Down Before Fall Semester

California Polytechnic University, Humboldt President Tom Jackson Jr. announced he is stepping down as president this summer, prompting a nationwide search for his successor.

Jackson, the university’s first Black president and its first Filipino and Native American president, was appointed to his position in May 2019.

He will officially conclude his presidency on Aug. 11 and continue as a tenured professor in the College of Professional Studies and the College of Extended Education & Global Engagement at the university.

In a statement, Jackson called Cal Poly Humboldt “an amazing place with special people.”

“Like many of you, I wake up every day and remember what a gift I have been given: to have the opportunity to inspire and lead others. Your work makes a positive difference for our students. Please never forget that,” he said.

In 2022, Jackson oversaw the university’s shift from Humboldt State University to California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, coinciding with a $458 million state funding increase to support the transition.

Cal Poly Humboldt is one of three polytechnic universities in the state that are overseen by the California State University (CSU) system. Each polytechnic school is required to provide a minimum of three undergraduate majors in STEM areas, including applied sciences, engineering, and technology.

Since becoming a polytechnic, Cal Poly Humboldt has introduced nine additional bachelor’s degrees, including a bachelor’s degree in cannabis studies, and a new master’s degree, along with a new residence hall project expected to accommodate nearly 1,000 students.

The introduction of new programs and the polytechnic designation has sparked a significant increase in interest in the university, with the number of first-time undergraduate applications for fall 2023 increasing by a record 86%, according to the university.

“President Jackson led Cal Poly Humboldt’s bold transformation to become Northern California’s first polytechnic institution, solidifying its already strong experiential learning ethos and energizing a robust research and innovation agenda,” CSU Chancellor Mildred García said in a statement.

“The transformation inspired significant state funding to expand academic offerings, facilities, and campus services, and enrollment growth, a testament to the impactful role the university can play in addressing critical regional, state, and national workforce needs.”

Before his role at Humboldt, Jackson served as the president of Black Hills State University in South Dakota and vice president for Student Affairs at both the University of Louisville and Texas A&M University-Kingsville. He also held administrative roles at institutions including the University of Texas at El Paso, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and the University of Southern California.

An interim president will be appointed “soon,” according to the CSU. This fall, the university system will launch a nationwide search for Cal Poly Humboldt’s next president.